Speakers will share journeys - past & future

Submitted by editor on Thu, 05/30/2013 - 3:10pm

Seniors, from left, Shelby Schneider, Anna Solheid and Nicole McQueen will be the student speakers during the New Prague High School commencement exercises Friday, May 31, in the New Prague High School gym. (Chuck Kajer Photo)

The three members of the New Prague High School Class of 2013 chosen to speak at Friday's commencement ceremonies will talk about the journey they have shared with their classmates, as well as the journey each of the members of the class are about to embark on.

Nicole McQueen, daughter of Traci and Mitchell Dedor of New Prague, Anna Solheid, daughter of Greg Solheid and Carol Sery, both of New Prague, and Shelby Schneider, daughter of Jeff and Jenny Schneider of New Prague, will address the packed New Prague High School gymnasium during commencement ceremonies.

McQueen will give the welcoming remarks. She will talk about how New Prague High School has prepared students for this moment, and about the different journeys students will be taking as they begin the next phase of their lives.

"I think the school has prepared us well," she said. "It is a very exceptional school."

McQueen will enroll at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall this fall, where she will study biology on a pre-med track. Her long-term goal is to become a dermatologist.

Schneider will talk about the changes that will be taking place for she and her classmates. "We should be proud of ourselves and what we've accomplished," she said. "We've got a new chapter ahead in our lives, a new journey to take."

Schneider agreed that New Prague High School has prepared students for the upcoming journey. Hers will take her to Winona State University, where she plans to study nursing.

Solheid says graduating from high school is a big achievement. "We can be proud that we did this together as a class. We went through so much together, powder puff games, dances, senior pranks… It's great how our class always managed to stay together," she said.

Solheid is also heading to Winona State and she also plans to study nursing. "I think New Prague High School did a tremendous job of preparing us," she said. "You learn so many skills, sometimes without realizing it. For the most part, teachers are easy to talk to and care about how you're doing,” she said.

The students were asked who some of their favorite teachers were. McQueen said she liked social studies teacher Dan Kneeland. "He enlightened me about theworld," she said. She also liked how Barb Prchal, art teacher, cares about her students.

Schneider said Steve Lang, Aaron Jasperson and Rachel Harmon were among her favorite teachers during her high school years. Solheid said language arts teacher Carrie DeValk and math teacher Dean Dorner were among her favorites.

The three, like the rest of the class of 2013, all have their hopes and dreams. Where their journeys will take them remain to be seen, but they are all excited about taking that next step.